College Scholarships & Contests

In today’s economy, paying for a college degree program can be challenging. Thankfully there are a host of public and private scholarships to help you secure a top-quality education. Explore some of the most interesting and valuable college scholarships below. Some of the scholarships are IT-specific, but many apply to all disciplines and career paths.

New scholarships are added and updated every month! Discover and apply to the best contests, sweepstakes and merit-based tuition assistance programs for you, then connect with an admissions advisor at an accredited school for free help building a personalized learning plan and financial aid strategy.

Got the 411 on an interesting scholarship we're not listing? Please tell us.

The Foot Locker Scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate excellence in academics, on the sports field and in their community. Twenty (20) winners, a.k.a. "scholar athletes," will receive a $20,000 scholarship to use towards the tuition of an accredited college or University.

To enter the Foot Locker Scholarship Contest, submit the short registration form and a written recommendation from a non-family member. You will also have the option to submit additional materials, such as additional recommendations, pictures and videos.

Know a student athlete who's deserving of the Foot Locker Scholarship? Go to the application page and nominate them.

Learn more and apply now:

The Vote Up or Shut Up Contest from DoSomething.org will award a $10,000 college scholarship to a teenager or young adult who helps spread their message of voter awareness. To enter this contest, simply visit the link below and enter the phone numbers of five friends or classmates who are "unlikely to vote" so DoSomething.org can "send them a message."

DoSomething.org is an organization with a mission to promote positive social change among America's teenage and young adult population.

Vote Up or Shut Up Scholarship Amount:

$10,000

Vote Up or Shut Up Scholarship Deadline:

December 1st

Vote Up or Shut Up Contest Eligibility:

Open to U.S. and Canadian residents between the ages of 15 and 25

Learn more and apply now:

CaptainU - America's leading web-based collegiate sports recruiter - is awarding a series of $2,000 scholarships to driven student-athletes who seek to take their game and education to the next level. The CaptainU $2,000 Student-Athlete Scholarship is open to all student-athletes (high school Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors as well as Junior College students) planning to attend an accredited 4-year program at college or university.

CaptainU $2,000 Student-Athlete Scholarship applications are judged on profile completeness, recruiting activity on CaptainU.com, and promotion of CaptainU. The first scholarship winner was announced on the CaptainU Facebook fan page on December 30, 2012.

CaptainU Scholarship Amount:

Four (4) $2,000 Awards (one winner per quarter)

Deadline:

February 28

Eligibility:

High school or junior college student with plans to attend a 4-year school / Age 13+ / U.S. Citizen

Learn more and apply now:

Visine's first ever Students with Vision Scholarship Program will grant ten $5,000 merit-based scholarships to 10 different applicants who demonstrate a clear and unique vision, strong ambition and determination to bring their dream to life. In addition to academics, financial need, extracurricular and community service activities, each student's personal story of how they are striving to achieve their goals will be weighted heavily in choosing the Visine scholarship winners. Personal stories can be submitted in video or essay format.

"For years, Visine Eye Drops have been a tool that helps people take care of their eyes so they can focus on their goals, whether they be everyday or lifelong. With the Visine 'Students with Vision' Scholarship Program, we hope to take that extra step to provide talented and motivated students with the necessary building blocks for success," says Stephanie Kaul, Group Brand Director at Johnson & Johnson Personal Care.

Visine Scholarship Amounts:

Ten $5,000 Awards to 10 Different Students

Visine Scholarship Deadline:

March 13, 2013

Visine Scholarship Eligibility:

Current college student (freshman, sophomore or junior) or High school senior / GPA of 2.8+

Learn more and apply now:

The "Frame My Future" Scholarship Contest is not your typical college scholarship; there are no long forms to complete or long list of eligibility requirements. Sponsored by diploma framing company Church Hill Classics, the "Frame My Future" Scholarship Contest is a fun and creative way to earn scholarship money.

To enter, applicants must submit an original creation with one image (in JPEG or PNG format) that expresses what you hope to achieve in your personal and professional life after college. Some entry ideas include: photograph, poem, short typed explanation, collage, drawing, graphic design, painting, or anything else you can dream of and capture with a single image. Your entry must be your original work and must follow the theme - This is how I "Frame My Future."

Scholarship Application:

The Document Management and Graphic Communications Industry (DMGCI) Scholarships is a collection of academic scholarships for creative design professionals including over 40 annual awards worth up to $5,000 apiece. The application below lets you apply to all 40+ scholarships. The scholarships are sponsored by companies and individuals involved in the digital communications industry, including Canon USA, Eastman Kodak, HP and others.

Scholarship selection criteria include scholastic achievement, essay, participation in school activities, community service, organizational affiliations, education objectives and recommendations. This scholarship program was initiated by the Electronic Document Systems Foundation (EDSF) in 1999 to recognize and support the next generation of graphic design professionals.

Amount:

Over 40 awards ranging from $1,000 - $5,000

Deadline:

May 1, 2014

Eligibility Requirements:

Interest in a graphic design career / 3.0+ GPA / Full-time student at accredited college

Learn More and Apply Now:

The College JumpStart Scholarship is an semi-annual, merit-based scholarship open to high-school sophomores, juniors & seniors, college students, and non-traditional students. Financial need is not considered for the College JumpStart Scholarship; the main requirement is that you are committed to going to school and can express your goals for getting a higher education (by answering one of the following questions). There are numerous awards for winners of the College JumpStart Scholarship fund, including a $1,500 scholarship for first place, a $750 scholarship for the runner-up, and multiple $250 scholarships for honorable mentions.

To apply for the College JumpStart Scholarship simply answer one of these questions in 250 words or less:

What are your educational goals?

How will winning this scholarship help you attain your goals?

Write about a time when "hard work" paid off.

Explain your community service/volunteering experience and how it has affected your life and outlook.

Amounts:

1st Place - $1500 / 2nd Place - $750 / Honorable Mentions - $250

Deadline:

April 15, 2014

Scholarship Eligibility:

High school 10th-12th grader, college student, or non-traditional student / U.S. citizen or legal resident / plan to attend an accredited school

College JumpStart Scholarship Application:

The "From Failure to Promise" Essay Contest scholarship is open to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate-level college students. To be considered, contestants must submit a 1000+ word essay that addresses the following two questions: How has the book, "From Failure to Promise: An Uncommon Path to Professoriate" positively impacted your pursuit of success and promise? What is your commitment to improving the lives of global citizens once you've reached your destined promise? Essay contest winners will be selected based on originality, quality of research, and effectiveness of presentation.

Award Amount:

$1,500 for 1st Place | $1,000 for 2nd Place | $500 for 3rd Place

Contest Deadline:

July 31, 2014

Contest Eligibility:

Contestants must be a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate college student with at least a 3.0 GPA, and planning to pursue a degree at an accredited school in the U.S.

Essay Contest Application:

The America's Best Blogging Scholarship is available to undergraduates, graduate-level college students and incoming freshmen. To be considered for America's Best Blogging Scholarship, applicants must write a blog post that addresses the following question: "How do you plan to positively impact your community and nation upon graduation?"

To enter, simply post your answer on any blog platform (Facebook doesn't count), embed the Blogging Scholarship badge to make it official (grab the embed code from www.yourlocalsecurity.com/scholarship/apply), like it on Facebook or Google+, then submit the URL of your blog via the link below. Winning entries will be selected based on content and social validation (Tweets, Google +1s, Facebook Likes, Stumbles, etc.). Your blog must contain unique information about you and/or your interests. No spam blogs.

America's Best Blogging Scholarship Amount:

$1000

America's Best Blogging Scholarship Deadline:

December 31, 2013

America's Best Blogging Scholarship Eligibility:

U.S. citizen or legal resident / Currently attending full-time post-secondary education in U.S., or high school senior graduating this year

America's Best Blogging Scholarship Application:

The Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway is an exciting contest in which Dr Pepper is giving away over $1,000,000 in college scholarships for the 2015 school year! Prizes range from $5,000 to $100,000 in tuition payments. One of the neatest features of Dr. Pepper's scholarship is that your award can be used toward future college tuition AND to pay off previously incurred student loans -- students with college loan debt should definitely pursue this syrupy sweet opportunity!

To enter for your chance to win the 2014 - 2015 Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway, simply visit the application link below and tell Dr. Pepper your One-of-a-Kind Goal. You can even nominate your friends! You and your peers will vote on the winners and track votes in real-time on their nifty leader board. Once you reach 50 votes you will be asked to submit a video for the final leg of the contest. Best of luck!

Amount:

Over 1 million dollars in scholarships, ranging from $5K to $100K each.

Deadline:

October 20, 2014

Eligibility:

U.S. resident ages 18 - 24 | Applicants of 25+ yrs are still eligible for $5,000 awards, just not the grand prize.

Application:

The Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship provides deserving students of all ages with scholarships that can be used to pay for college or graduate school. The scholarship is a merit-based program which means financial need is not considered. The Gen and Kelly Tanabe scholarship winner is chosen based on the quality of a 250-word personal statement you must submit to enter. The award may be used for tuition, room and board, books, or any related educational expense. Past academic performance is not considered as the goal is to create a level playing field.

The Scholarship is named after Gen and Kelly Tanabe who are the award-winning authors of eleven books on admission and scholarships. Together the Tanabes were accepted to all of the Ivy League colleges and won more than $100,000 in merit-based scholarships to graduate from Harvard debt-free. Gen and Kelly Tanabe tour the nation speaking about college planning and have served as expert sources for USA Today, The New York Times, CNN and US News & World Report.

Scholarship Amount:

$1,000

Scholarship Deadline:

July 31, 2014

Eligibility Requirements:

Legal U.S. Resident / 9th-12th grade high school, college, or graduate student including adult students who are currently in school or planning to start school within the next 12 months

Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship Application:

The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program was established by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Technology, Science, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The SMART Scholarship program aims to increase the number of gifted civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories. Additional benefits include college tuition reimbursement, paid summer internships, and government IT job placement after graduation. Download the SMART Scholarship brochure for more information.

SMART Scholarship Amount:

$25,000 - $41,000 (Multiple Awards)

SMART Scholarship Deadline:

December 16, 2013 at 5:00 PM EST

SMART Scholarship Requirements:

US Citizen / 18 years old / Enrolled in a US college / Security clearance eligibility

SMART Scholarship Application:

The "Financial Connects" Financial Literacy Scholarship is open to students in sixth grade all the way up to graduate students in college, in any field of study. Scholarship applicants create an original 2-3 minute video or interactive game that promotes financial literacy and correlates with the Department of Education's financial literacy standards. View some recent winning entries here for a better idea. Applicants may participate individually or as a team. Over 100 awards are available! The "Financial Connects" Financial Literacy Scholarship Award is sponsored by the Net Literacy Alliance.

"Financial Connects" Scholarship Amounts:

Over 100 awards ranging from $1,000 - $5,000

"Financial Connects" Scholarship Deadline:

2012 / 2013 Deadlines TBD

"Financial Connects" Scholarship Eligibility:

Financial Literacy scholarship contestants must be active student(s) currently enrolled in grades 6-12, or active part-time college or graduate students in a 2-4 year college or university within the United States during the contest period.

Financial Literacy Scholarship Application:

To underscore its commitment to the academic success of exceptional minority students, Xerox created the Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship program, which offers several scholarships between $1000 and $10,000 to qualified minorities enrolled in a technical degree program. The Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship is open to all undergrad or graduate college students at the bachelor level and above who are majoring in a technical field - such as Information Management, Computing and Software Systems, Material Science, Printing Management Science, Laser Optics, Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering - and maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship Application:

The Sarder Scholarship, offered by New York based technical training school, NetCom Learning, was created in 2009 to advance the careers of IT professionals and spread NetCom's culture of lifelong learning. Every month the Sarder Scholarship is awarded to one driven individual wishing to begin or advance their IT career. The scholarship provides $2500 towards any publicly scheduled IT classes or IT certification bootcamps at NetCom. NetCom offers authorized training courses from leading technology vendors like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, Adobe, Citrix, and Autodesk.

Sarder Scholarship Amount:

$2,500

Sarder Scholarship Deadline:

Every month on the 15th

Sarder Scholarship Requirements:

High school diploma or GED / 18+ years old

Learn More and Apply Now:

This is an excellent opportunity for our more adventurous scholarship-hunters. The Fulbright Grant rewards college undergrads who want to travel to a foreign country to study, teach English, or conduct research. Students in all fields of study are eligible for the Fulbright Grant, however preference is given to students whose higher education was received primarily in the United States and who have not lived in the country in which they wish to study for over six months. You must have or will have earned a Bachelor's Degree or its equivalent before the start date of the grant. Applicants in medicine must have an M.D. or its equivalent.

The Fulbright Grant Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. "Fostering leadership, learning and empathy between cultures was and remains the purpose of the international scholarship program." – Senator J. William Fulbright

Awards:

Fulbright Grant benefits may include: round-trip transportation to the host country, maintenance and living costs for the academic year, limited health benefits, book and tuition allowances, language study and research funding, and more.

Deadline:

October 15, 2013 (5:00 PM EST)

Eligibility Requirements:

US Citizenship / B.A. degree or equivalent before grant starts / Be in good health / Sufficient proficiency in the written and spoken language of the host country

Fulbright Grant Application:

The PossibilityU Scholarship is open to high school and undergrad college students. To enter you must create a 5-minute video that uses one of the five prompts provided below to tell us about your hopes, dreams and schemes for the way your college experience will change your world. You must post your video on YouTube and PossibilityU's Facebook page. Voting will be open to the public. The video with the most votes wins. The earlier you submit your PossibilityU video the better, as voters will have more time to "Like" it.

PossibilityU Scholarship Video Prompts:

I want to bring my time, talent & conscience together to...

I want to broaden my horizons by...

I want to have time to connect the dots differently...

I want to understand my own capacity for...

Why the tassel will be worth my hassle...

PossibilityU Scholarship Amount:

$5,000 for college + PossibilityU Membership

PossibilityU Scholarship Deadline:

2012/2013 deadlines have not been released yet

PossibilityU Eligibility Requirements:

18+ years old (or with parental consent - those scheduled to graduate high school between 2013 and 2015 may also participate) / Legal U.S. Resident

PossibilityU Scholarship Application:

BookRenter.com's "Rock The World" Scholarship is your chance to win a college scholarship worth up to $25,000. This scholarship is unique because the award amount grows every time someone "Likes" The Rock The World BookRenter.com Scholarship on Facebook. (Smart social media tactic too!) Visit the Rock The World BookRenter.com Scholarship website via the link below and tell them “How you will use the scholarship," and "how your education will impact the world," to enter.” The most inspiring entry will win the scholarship.

BookRenter.com makes education more affordable by allowing students to rent textbooks for up to 80% off retail. BookRenter claims to provide students with the best prices, highest quality books, and most flexible rental experience available.

BookRenter.com “Rock The World” Scholarship Amount:

Up to $25,000

BookRenter.com “Rock The World” Scholarship Deadline:

2012 deadlines have not been announced yet

BookRenter.com “Rock The World” Eligibility Requirements:

13+ years old / Legal U.S. Resident

Learn More and Apply Now:

The Mark Beaumont Scholarship was established to support students who are pursuing careers specializing in the business of interactive entertainment. Possible career paths for Mark Beaumont scholarship applicants include (but are not limited to) executive leadership, law, marketing, public relations, and business development.

The Mark Beaumont Scholarship was established by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in 2010 to honor the memory of COO of Capcom North America and Europe, Mark Beaumont.

Mark Beaumont Scholarship Amounts:

Two $2,500 scholarships to 2 different students for the 2012-2013 school year

Mark Beaumont Scholarship Deadline:

June 29, 2012

Mark Beaumont Scholarship Eligibility:

Full-time student in an accredited college or university in the US / GPA of 3.3 on 4.0 Scale / Intention to enter the game industry in the area of business (game developers check out the Randy Pausch Scholarship)

Learn More and Apply Now:

The Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund was established to support students who are pursuing careers specializing in the development of interactive entertainment. Possible career paths for Randy Pausch Scholarship applicants include (but are not limited to) art, animation, programming, engineering, game direction, video game design, sound design, and music composition.

The Randy Pausch Scholarship was established by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in 2008 to honor the memory of Computer Science Professor and Co-Founder of the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Randy Pausch.

Randy Pausch Scholarship Amounts:

Two $2,500 scholarships to 2 different students for the 2012 - 2013 school year

Randy Pausch Scholarship Deadline:

June 29, 2012

Randy Pausch Scholarship Eligibility:

Full-time student in an accredited college or university in the US / Intention to enter the game industry as a video game developer (business majors in gaming industry should check out the Mark Beaumont Scholarship) / GPA of 3.3 on 4.0 scale

Learn More and Apply Now:

The Adobe Design Achievement Awards (ADAA) is a highly competitive contest for design students to submit impressive samples of work created using Adobe software.

The competition - which showcases individual and group projects created with Adobe creative software - honors the most talented and promising student graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, digital filmmakers, developers and computer artists from the world's top institutions of higher education.

Award Amount:

$3,000 + Trip to Adobe MAX Event + Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription

Contest Deadline:

June 20, 2014

Eligibility Requirements:

18+ years old | Student(s) or faculty at an accredited institution of higher learning

Learn More & Apply Now:

In partnership with the College Board, the Siemens Foundation established the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, Engineering & Technology (STEM). The competition aims to promote excellence by encouraging high school students to undertake individual or team research projects. These projects foster intensive research that improves students' understanding of the value of scientific study and informs their consideration of future careers in cutting-edge STEM disciplines. Scholarships for winning projects range from $1,000 to an incredible $100,000 grand prize!

Amount:

Multiple team and individual awards ranging from $1,000 to $100,000

Deadline:

The deadline for the 2014 Siemens Contest has not yet been announced. Visit the link below for the latest details.

Eligibility Requirements:

U.S. Citizenship / High school student in good standing

Learn More and Apply Now:

Everyone has a dream. Achieving your goals and living your dreams requires energy, drive and determination. 24Seven Energy is here to fuel your dreams with its fruit energy drinks and exclusive $1,000 Scholarship. To apply, complete the form at the link below and tell 24Seven, in 250 words or less, how $1,000 will help you realize your dream.

*As an added bonus, applicants will be eligible to win an iPad 2, just for taking the time to share your dreams. Good luck!

“Fuel Your Dreams” Scholarship Amount:

$1,500

“Fuel Your Dreams” Scholarship Deadline:

September 4, 2012

“Fuel Your Dreams” Scholarship Requirements:

9-12th grade high school student, current college student, or planning to enroll in continuing education / Legal U.S. Resident

Learn More and Apply Now:

The LiveCitizen Scholarship Competition is open to all students ages 16 and older who are currently enrolled or plan to enroll in an accredited post-secondary education institution. To be considered, you must submit a 1-2 minute video and a 200-300 word essay answering the question "Who was the best president ever and why?" Once the video and essay are uploaded on the LiveCitizen website, the videos will be voted on. The top five highest voted videos will then be sent to the LiveCitizen staff to decide the scholarship winner. Second and third runners up will receive an Amazon Kindle.

Scholarship Amount:

$2,500

Application Deadline:

This scholarship ended with the folding of LiveCitizen in Late 2012

Eligibility Requirements:

Currently or planning to enroll in an accredited school / 16+ years old

Learn More and Apply Now:

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